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GP leads the way in online contest

Grande Prairie is the greenest city in Canada, according to an ongoing Canada-wide contest promoting environmentally-friendly initiatives.

The Green Grouch online contest encourages people to adopt earth-friendly habits in their daily routines. Participants receive weekly challenges such as using a reusable coffee mug, remembering to turn out the lights or running cold-water wash cycles.

After completing the tasks, they fill out an online checklist that awards points to their city. Currently Grande Prairie is in the lead, Ottawa is in second and Calgary third.

"If I was a betting man, I would put all my money on Grande Prairie," said Green Grouch creator Barrie Moore.

Moore said that one of the reasons Grande Prairie has been so successful is because Michelle Gairdner, manager of the city's Environment Sustainability Department, pitched the challenge to city council.

"We moved from about 20th place to No. 1 in about four or five weeks," Gairdner said. By referring her colleagues and friends, Gairdner created a buzz that got people jumping on board to make Grande Prairie "the Greenest Place To Be."

Mayor Bill Given joined as well and sent letters to the mayors of Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer and Calgary encouraging them to "try and catch us if you can."

"The contest was designed to encourage all of us to do more to protect the environment," Given said. "Sometimes we all need a nudge in the right direction,"

One way that Grande Prairie is becoming a greener place is with its recycling program. Gairdner said the planned introduction of curbside recycling pick-up will make a big difference.

"It'll be a much better system that will be implemented in September," she said.

However, Gairdner also pointed out areas that could be improved.

"We're working on idling reduction," she said. "It's a big issue in our area."

Gairdner said she has received complaints about cars and trucks idling outside when it isn't cold enough to warrant it.

"I've had calls from a daycare and a couple of schools and it's an issue for them. Those emissions are being put into buildings where little kids are," she said.

"A big percentage of people have remote starters in their cars and people overuse them."

Gairdner thinks the Green Grouch is a great tool to get people seeing green and to spread awareness about small changes people can make every day, whether they succeed in the challenges or not.

"Meatless Monday - that one is a challenge for me," she said. "But I've become more aware of bringing my reusable mug with me. Getting the weekly checklist is just sort of a mental note."

Moore started the website with the idea of simplicity in mind.

"We understand people are busy with their work and their kids and we want to make this absolutely simple,"

Moore's philosophy is to get people to change their daily routines in small, easy to manage ways.

"We believe that it's a lot better to have 99% of people doing little things than 1% of people trying to do everything," he explained.

Moore says that the enthusiasm of Gairdner and other Peace Country participants has been inspiring.

"We really thank Grande Prairie," he said.

To help Grande Prairie stay in the lead, and learn about ways to save the environment, log on to www.thegreengrouch.com. It takes less than a minute to participate and the challenges are fun, quick and simple.